Oral Care Implement

ABSTRACT

An oral care implement having an optical machine-readable representation of data, such as a barcode. The oral care implement may include a plurality of protrusions that at least partially define the optical machine-readable representation of data. Specifically, portions of the plurality of protrusions have a color that visually contrasts with a color of a surface that is exposed between the plurality of protrusions. Thus, the protrusions and the exposed surface collectively form the optical machine-readable representation of data. The oral care implement may include a soft tissue cleaner that forms the optical machine-readable representation of data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/911,484, filed Feb. 11, 2016, which is a U.S. national stageapplication under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No.PCT/US2013/054669, filed Aug. 13, 2013, the entireties of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to oral care implements, such astoothbrushes.

When a consumer purchases an oral care implement, the oral careimplement typically is provided in a package, such as a blister pack ora carton, which includes information, such as a stock keeping unit(SKU), identifying the oral care implement packaged therein. Once theoral care implement has been removed from the package, the consumertypically disposes of the package. Subsequent to the disposal of thepackage, and usually after repeated use of the oral care implement, theconsumer may wish to purchase another example of the same type of oralcare implement. However, without the package that the oral careimplement was originally provided in, the consumer can find it verydifficult to identify the type of oral care implement they wish topurchase from the vast array of oral care implements on the markettoday.

Accordingly, there is a need for an oral care implement that aids aconsumer's identification of the oral care implement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An oral care implement having an optical machine-readable representationof data, such as a barcode. The oral care implement may include aplurality of protrusions that at least partially define the opticalmachine-readable representation of data. Specifically, portions of theplurality of protrusions have a color that visually contrasts with acolor of a surface that is exposed between the plurality of protrusions.Thus, the protrusions and the exposed surface collectively form theoptical machine-readable representation of data. The oral care implementmay include a soft tissue cleaner that forms the opticalmachine-readable representation of data.

In one aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: abody comprising a handle portion and a head portion; and an opticalmachine-readable representation of data located on the body.

In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion, thehead portion having a first side and a second side opposite the firstside; a soft tissue cleaner positioned on the second side of the headportion, the soft tissue cleaner comprising a plurality of protrusionsthat extend from the second side of the head portion; and wherein theplurality of protrusions of the soft tissue cleaner at least partiallydefine an optical machine-readable representation of data.

In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion; and amonolithic mass of elastomeric material coupled to the body, themonolithic mass of elastomeric material comprising a pad and a pluralityof protrusions, the monolithic mass of elastomeric material defining anoptical machine-readable representation of data.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an oral care implement according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial close-up perspective view of the rear of thesecond side of the oral care implement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the head of the oral careimplement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the head of an oral careimplement according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the head of an oral careimplement according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the head of an oral careimplement according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the head of an oral careimplement according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

In the following description, the invention is embodied in amanually-operated oral care implement, more specifically amanually-operated toothbrush. However, in other embodiments, theinvention is embodied in a powered toothbrush wherein one or morecleaning elements provided to the head of the implement are drivable soas to be moved relative to the handle of the implement. In still furtherembodiments, the invention may be embodied in other forms of oral careimplements, such as a soft-tissue cleaner, a tooth polisher, aninterdental brush, a tongue scraper, or another implement designed fororal care. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized, and that structural and functional modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an oral care implement, in this case atoothbrush, according to a first embodiment of the present invention,generally designated with the reference numeral 100. The toothbrush 100has a body 110 comprising a handle portion 120, a head portion 140 and aneck portion 130 that connects the handle portion 120 to the headportion 140. The head portion 140 is an end portion of the body 110 andis provided with a set 200 of cleaning elements for cleaning surfaces ina user's mouth, such as surfaces of their teeth. In FIGS. 1 and 2, thecleaning elements are illustrated as a simple block for clarity.However, it will be appreciated that, in reality, the set 200 ofcleaning elements comprises a plurality of individually identifiablecleaning elements.

In this embodiment, the cleaning elements comprise a plurality of toothcleaning elements, preferably a plurality of flexible, nylon bristlesarranged in tufts. However, in variations to this embodiment, the toothcleaning elements may additionally or alternatively comprise at leastone of any one or more of the following, without limitation: bristles,rigid bristles, flexible bristles, filament bristles, fiber bristles,nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomericprotrusions, elastomeric elements, flexible polymer protrusions,co-extruded filaments, flag bristles, crimped bristles, anti-bacterialbristles and combinations thereof and/or structures containing suchmaterials or combinations.

The implement 100 has a head 180, comprising the head portion 140 of thebody 110, the set 200 of cleaning elements, and a resilient material160, each of which is described in more detail below. The implement 100also has a handle 150, comprising the handle portion 120 of the body 110and the thumb and rear grips 125, 127 discussed below. In variations inwhich the thumb and rear grips 125, 127 are omitted, the handlecomprises the handle portion 120 of the body 110. The implement 100further has a neck, comprising the neck portion 130 of the body 110.

The head portion 140 has a first, proximal end 141 and a second, distalend 142. The proximal and distal ends 141, 142 of the head portion 140form respective proximal and distal ends 181, 182 of the head 180. Thehandle portion 120 has a first, proximal end 121 and a second, distalend 122. The proximal and distal ends 121, 122 of the handle portion 120form respective proximal and distal ends 151, 152 of the handle 150. Theneck portion 130 connects the distal end 122 of the handle portion 120to the proximal end 141 of the head portion 140. The neck portion 130 isgenerally of a narrower cross sectional area than at least the distalend 152 of the handle 150 and, in some embodiments, the neck portion 130is generally of a narrower cross sectional area than all of the handle150.

The handle 150 provides the user with a mechanism by which he/she canreadily grip and manipulate the toothbrush 100, includes ergonomicfeatures which provide a high degree of control for the user whilemaintaining comfort, and may be formed of many different shapes and witha variety of constructions.

Generally, the toothbrush 100 extends from a proximal end 101 (which isalso the proximal end 121 of the handle portion 120) to a distal end 102(which is also the distal end 142 of the head portion 140) along alongitudinal axis A-A. Although the handle 150 is a non-linear structurein the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis A-A of theimplement 100 is linear in the illustrated embodiment. However, theinvention is not so limited, and in certain embodiments, the implement100 may have a simple linear handle 150 that is longitudinally alignedalong the linear longitudinal axis A-A of the implement 100.

The head portion 140 is connected to the handle portion 120 via the neckportion 130. In this embodiment, the head portion 140, neck portion 130and handle portion 120 are formed as an integral structure using aninjection molding process. The head portion 140, handle portion 120 andneck portion 130 are together a single, unitary structure. That is, thebody 110 is a unitary body. However, in other embodiments, the headportion 140 and the neck portion 130 together may be formed as aseparate component from the handle portion 120, which separatecomponents are operably connected at a later stage of the manufacturingprocess by any suitable technique known in the art, including withoutlimitation thermal welding, sonic welding, a tight-fit assembly, acoupling sleeve, adhesion, fasteners, and a snap-fit connection. Whetherthe head and neck portions 140, 130 and the handle portion 120 areconstructed as a single piece or a multi-piece assembly (includingconnection techniques) is not limiting of the present invention in allembodiments. Furthermore, other manufacturing techniques may be used inplace of and/or in addition to injection molding to create the handleportion 120 and/or the head portion 140 (or components thereof) and/orthe neck portion 130, such as milling and/or machining and/or additivemanufacturing.

In this embodiment, the body 110 comprising each of the head portion140, neck portion 130 and handle portion 120 is constructed ofpolypropylene (PP). However, in variations to this embodiment, the body110 may instead or additionally be constructed of one or more of thefollowing materials: polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, cellulosics,styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS) and a thermoplastic. Preferably, the body 110 is of a materialthat is harder than the resilient material 160. An optional thumb grip125 is provided on a front side of the handle portion 120, and anoptional rear grip 127 is provided on a rear side of the handle portion120 opposite to the front side of the handle portion 120. The thumb andrear grips 125, 127 are non-unitary with the body 110, and may be formedof any of the materials discussed below for the resilient material 160.

The head 180 generally comprises a first side 183 and a second side 184opposite to the first side 183. The first side 183 and the second side184 of the head 180 can take on a wide variety of shapes and contours,none of which are limiting of the present invention. For example, thefirst and second sides 183, 184 can be planar, contoured or combinationsthereof. The first side 183 and second side 184 are joined by aperipheral or lateral side 146 of the head portion 140, which is aperipheral or lateral side 185 of the head 180. The cleaning elements ofthe set 200 are provided at, and extend outward from, the first side 183of the head 180 for cleaning contact with an oral surface, preferablyteeth.

While the set 200 of cleaning elements are particularly suited forcleaning teeth, the cleaning elements can be used to clean oral softtissue, such as a tongue, gums, or cheeks instead of or in addition toteeth. As used herein, the term “cleaning element” is used in a genericsense to refer to any structure that can be used to clean, massage orpolish an oral surface, such as teeth or soft tissue, through relativesurface contact.

Indeed, in a variation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, insteadof a set 200 of tooth cleaning elements, there is instead provided atleast one soft tissue cleaning element, such as a tongue scrapercomprising at least one blade. Preferably, the, or each, blade has itslongitudinal length disposed so as to extend laterally across the frontside 183 of the head 180. The at least one soft tissue cleaning elementmay have one or more proximal ends that are connected to the rest of thehead in substantially the same manner as the proximal ends of theplurality of tooth cleaning elements discussed below for the firstembodiment.

At the second side 184 of the head 180 is disposed a soft tissue cleaner170. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the soft tissue cleaner 170comprises the resilient material 160. The resilient material 160comprises a pad 162 and a plurality of protrusions 164 that are unitarywith the pad 162. The pad 162 is attached to the head portion 140 of thebody 110 and has a surface 163. The plurality of protrusions 164 extendfrom the surface 163 of the pad 162 so that distal ends 165 of theprotrusions 164 are spaced from the surface 163 of the pad 162. Thedistal ends 165 are planar and approximately parallel to the surface 163of the pad 162. The protrusions 164 are spaced from each other by gaps166. In the gaps 166, portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162 arevisible between the protrusions 164. The resilient material 160 may bean elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), orstyrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS).

Preferably, there is a high degree of visual contrast between theappearance of the surface 163 of the pad 162 and at least the distalends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164. For example,the distal ends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164 maybe a different color to the surface 163 of the pad 162, or the distalends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164 may be alighter or darker shade of the same color as the surface 163 of the pad162. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the distal ends 165 of theprotrusions 164 are dark blue and the surface 163 of the pad 162 islight green. The visual contrast may be achieved either by the distalends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164 being of adifferent color material to the surface 163 of the pad 162, or by thedistal ends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164 havinga color applied to them after forming the resilient material 160, suchas by being painted or dyed.

Each of the protrusions 164 is linear, or elongate, in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. in a direction parallelto a transverse direction of the implement 100. Moreover, theprotrusions 164 are parallel to each other and are all approximately thesame length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A.Each of the protrusions 164 extends about 1.5 millimeters from thesurface 163 of the pad 162. In other embodiments, each of theprotrusions 164 extends more than 2 millimeters from the surface 163 ofthe pad 162. In other embodiments, each of the protrusions 164 extendsbetween 0.5 and 3 millimeters, more preferably between 2.1 and 3millimeters, from the surface 163 of the pad 162.

The protrusions 164 and the portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162visible in the gaps 166 are dimensioned and relatively disposed so that,together, the protrusions 164 and the portions of the surface 163 of thepad 162 visible in the gaps 166 define an optical machine-readablerepresentation of data 190 of a standard format, which is visible to thehuman eye. The optical machine-readable representation of data 190comprises or represents an identifier, such as a stock keeping unit(SKU), of the oral care implement 100. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to3, the protrusions 164 and the portions of the surface 163 of the pad162 visible in the gaps 166 are configured so that the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 comprises a barcode. Theprotrusions 164, or at least their distal ends 165, define lines of thebarcode, while the portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162 visible inthe gaps 166 define spaces between the lines of the barcode. The barcodeis a linear barcode, preferably of the Code 25 Interleaved standardformat.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the protrusions 164 are connected tothe body 110 by way of the resilient material 160 being attached to thehead portion 140 of the body 110. In a variation to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 to 3, the protrusions may be comprised in the head portion 140of the body 110, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the soft tissue cleaner 170 comprisesresilient material 160 defining a pad 162 attached to the head portion140 of the body 110 and having a surface 163. The soft tissue cleaner170 further comprises a plurality of protrusions 144 that are unitarywith the head portion 140 of the body 110 and extend through respectiveholes in the pad 162. The plurality of protrusions 144 extend from thehead portion 140 of the body 110 so that distal ends 145 of theprotrusions 144 are spaced from the surface 163 of the pad 162. Thedistal ends 145 are planar and approximately parallel to the surface 163of the pad 162. The protrusions 144 are spaced from each other by gaps166. In the gaps 166, portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162 arevisible between the protrusions 144. The resilient material 160 may bean elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), orstyrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS).

Preferably, there is a high degree of visual contrast between theappearance of the surface 163 of the pad 162 and at least the distalends 145, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144. For example,the distal ends 145, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144 maybe a different color to the surface 163 of the pad 162, or the distalends 145, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144 may be alighter or darker shade of the same color as the surface 163 of the pad162. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the distal ends 145 of the protrusions144 are dark blue, and the surface 163 of the pad 162 is light green.The visual contrast may be achieved either by the distal ends 145, andmost preferably all, of the protrusions 144 being of a different colormaterial to the surface 163 of the pad 162, and preferably all of theresilient material 160, or by the distal ends 145, and preferably all,of the protrusions 144 having a color applied to them after they areformed, such as by being painted or dyed.

Each of the protrusions 144 is linear, or elongate, in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. in a direction parallelto a transverse direction of the implement 100. Moreover, theprotrusions 144 are parallel to each other and are all approximately thesame length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A.Each of the protrusions 144 extends about 1.5 millimeters from thesurface 163 of the pad 162. In other embodiments, each of theprotrusions 144 extends more than 2 millimeters from the surface 163 ofthe pad 162. In other embodiments, each of the protrusions 144 extendsbetween 0.5 and 3 millimeters, more preferably between 2.1 and 3millimeters, from the surface 163 of the pad 162.

The protrusions 144 and the portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162visible in the gaps 166 are dimensioned and relatively disposed so that,together, the protrusions 144 and the portions of the surface 163 of thepad 162 visible in the gaps 166 define an optical machine-readablerepresentation of data 190 of a standard format, which is visible to thehuman eye. The optical machine-readable representation of data 190comprises or represents an identifier, such as a stock keeping unit(SKU), of the oral care implement 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, theprotrusions 144 and the portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162visible in the gaps 166 are configured so that the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 comprises a barcode. Theprotrusions 144, or at least their distal ends 145, define the lines ofthe barcode, while the portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162visible in the gaps 166 define the spaces between the lines of thebarcode. The barcode is a linear barcode, preferably of the Code 25Interleaved standard format.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the protrusions 164 are connected tothe body 110, and in the embodiment of FIG. 4 the protrusions 144 arecomprised in the head portion 140 of the body 110. In a variation to theembodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and 4, some of the protrusions are connectedto the head portion 140 of the body 110 while others of the protrusionsare comprised in the head portion 140 of the body 110, as shown in FIG.5.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the soft tissue cleaner 170 comprisesresilient material 160. The resilient material 160 comprises a pad 162and a first plurality of protrusions 164 that are unitary with the pad162. The pad 162 is attached to the head portion 140 of the body 110 andhas a surface 163. The soft tissue cleaner 170 further comprises asecond plurality of protrusions 144 that are unitary with the headportion 140 of the body 110 and extend through respective holes in thepad 162. Each of the first plurality of protrusions 144 extends from thehead portion 140 of the body 110, and each of the second plurality ofprotrusions 164 extends from the surface 163 of the pad 162, so thatdistal ends 145, 165 of the protrusions 144, 164 are spaced from thesurface 163 of the pad 162. The distal ends 145, 165 are planar andapproximately parallel to the surface 163 of the pad 162. Theprotrusions 144, 164 are spaced from each other by gaps 166. In the gaps166, portions of the surface 163 of the pad 162 are visible between theprotrusions 144, 164. The resilient material 160 may be an elastomericmaterial, such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), orstyrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS).

Preferably, there is a high degree of visual contrast between theappearance of the surface 163 of the pad 162 and at least the distalends 145, 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144, 164. Forexample, the distal ends 145, 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 144, 164 may be a different color to the surface 163 of thepad 162, or the distal ends 145, 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 144, 164 may be a lighter or darker shade of the same coloras the surface 163 of the pad 162. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the thedistal ends 145 of the protrusions 144 are dark blue, the distal ends165 of the protrusions 164 are dark blue, and the surface 163 of the pad162 is light green. The visual contrast may be achieved either by thedistal ends 145, 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144,164 being of a different color material to the surface 163 of the pad162, or by the distal ends 145, 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 144, 164 having a color applied to them after they areformed, such as by being painted or dyed.

Each of the protrusions 144, 164 is linear, or elongate, in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. in a direction parallelto a transverse direction of the implement 100. Moreover, theprotrusions 144, 164 are parallel to each other and are allapproximately the same length in the direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis A-A. Each of the protrusions 144, 164 extends about1.5 millimeters from the surface 163 of the pad 162. In otherembodiments, each of the protrusions 144 extends more than 2 millimetersfrom the surface 163 of the pad 162. In other embodiments, each of theprotrusions 144, 164 extends between 0.5 and 3 millimeters, morepreferably between 2.1 and 3 millimeters, from the surface 163 of thepad 162.

The protrusions 144, 164 and the portions of the surface 163 of the pad162 visible in the gaps 166 are dimensioned and relatively disposed sothat, together, the protrusions 144, 164 and the portions of the surface163 of the pad 162 visible in the gaps 166 define an opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 of a standard format, whichis visible to the human eye. The optical machine-readable representationof data 190 comprises or represents an identifier, such as a stockkeeping unit (SKU), of the oral care implement 100. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the protrusions 144, 164 and the portions of the surface 163 ofthe pad 162 visible in the gaps 166 are configured so that opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 comprises a barcode. Theprotrusions 144, 164, or at least their distal ends 145, 165, define thelines of the barcode, while the portions of the surface 163 of the pad162 visible in the gaps 166 define the spaces between the lines of thebarcode. The barcode is a linear barcode, preferably of the Code 25Interleaved standard format.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5, portions of the surface 163 of thepad 162 are visible in the gaps 166 between the protrusions 144, 164. Ina variation to these embodiments, the protrusions may be connected tothe head portion 140 of the body 110 so that portions of a surface ofthe head portion 140 of the body 110 are visible in gaps between theprotrusions, as shown in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the soft tissue cleaner 170 comprisesresilient material 160. The resilient material 160 comprises a pluralityof separate, non-unitary protrusions 164 that are attached to the headportion 140 of the body 110. The protrusions 164 extend from a surface147 of the head portion 140 so that distal ends 165 of the protrusions164 are spaced from the surface 147 of the head portion 140. The distalends 165 are planar and approximately parallel to the surface 147 of thehead portion 140. The protrusions 164 are spaced from each other by gaps166. In the gaps 166, portions of the surface 147 of the head portion140 are visible between the protrusions 164. The resilient material 160may be an elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE),or styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS).

Preferably, there is a high degree of visual contrast between theappearance of the surface 147 of the head portion 140 and at least thedistal ends 165, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 164. Forexample, the distal ends 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 164 may be a different color to the surface 147 of the headportion 140, or the distal ends 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 164 may be a lighter or darker shade of the same color asthe surface 147 of the head portion 140. In the embodiment of FIG. 6,the distal ends 165 of the protrusions 164 are dark blue and the surface147 of the head portion 140 is light green. The visual contrast may beachieved either by the distal ends 165, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 164 being of a different color material to the surface 147of the head portion 140, or by the distal ends 165, and most preferablyall, of the protrusions 164 having a color applied to them after theyare formed, such as by being painted or dyed.

Each of the protrusions 164 is linear, or elongate, in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. in a direction parallelto a transverse direction of the implement 100. Moreover, theprotrusions 164 are parallel to each other and are all approximately thesame length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A.Each of the protrusions 164 extends about 1.5 millimeters from thesurface 147 of the head portion 140. In other embodiments, each of theprotrusions 164 extends more than 2 millimeters from the surface 147 ofthe head portion 140. In other embodiments, each of the protrusions 164extends between 0.5 and 3 millimeters, more preferably between 2.1 and 3millimeters, from the surface 147 of the head portion 140.

The protrusions 164 and the portions of the surface 147 of the headportion 140 visible in the gaps 166 are dimensioned and relativelydisposed so that, together, the protrusions 164 and the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 166 define anoptical machine-readable representation of data 190 of a standardformat, which is visible to the human eye. The optical machine-readablerepresentation of data 190 comprises or represents an identifier, suchas a stock keeping unit (SKU), of the oral care implement 100. In theembodiment of FIG. 6, the protrusions 164 and the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 166 areconfigured so that the optical machine-readable representation of data190 comprises a barcode. The protrusions 164, or at least their distalends 165, define the lines of the barcode, while the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 166 define thespaces between the lines of the barcode. The barcode is a linearbarcode, preferably of the Code 25 Interleaved standard format.

In still further embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner 170 does notcomprise resilient material but comprises only protrusions that areunitary with the head portion 140 of the body 110, as shown in FIG. 7.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, each of the protrusions 144 extends from asurface 147 of the head portion 140 of the body 110 so that distal ends145 of the protrusions 144 are spaced from the surface 147 of the headportion 140. The distal ends 145 are planar and approximately parallelto the surface 147 of the head portion 140. The protrusions 144 arespaced from each other by gaps 148. In the gaps 148, portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 are visible between the protrusions144.

Preferably, there is a high degree of visual contrast between theappearance of the surface 147 of the head portion 140 and at least thedistal ends 145, and most preferably all, of the protrusions 144. Forexample, the distal ends 145, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 144 may be a different color to the surface 147 of the headportion 140, or the distal ends 145, and most preferably all, of theprotrusions 144 may be a lighter or darker shade of the same color asthe surface 147 of the head portion 140. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,the distal ends 145 of the protrusions 144 are dark blue, and thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 is light green. The visual contrastmay be achieved either by the distal ends 145, and most preferably all,of the protrusions 144 being of a different color material to thesurface 147 of the head portion 140, or by the distal ends 145, and mostpreferably all, of the protrusions 144 having a color applied to themafter they are formed, such as by being painted or dyed.

Each of the protrusions 144 is linear, or elongate, in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. in a direction parallelto a transverse direction of the implement 100. Moreover, theprotrusions 144 are parallel to each other and are all approximately thesame length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A.Each of the protrusions 144 extends about 1.5 millimeters from thesurface 147 of the head portion 140. In other embodiments, each of theprotrusions 164 extends more than 2 millimeters from the surface 147 ofthe head portion 140. In other embodiments, each of the protrusions 144extends between 0.5 and 3 millimeters, more preferably between 2.1 and 3millimeters, from the surface 147 of the head portion 140.

The protrusions 144 and the portions of the surface 147 of the headportion 140 visible in the gaps 148 are dimensioned and relativelydisposed so that, together, the protrusions 144 and the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 148 define anoptical machine-readable representation of data 190 of a standardformat, which is visible to the human eye. The optical machine-readablerepresentation of data 190 comprises or represents an identifier, suchas a stock keeping unit (SKU), of the oral care implement 100. In theembodiment of FIG. 7, the protrusions 144 and the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 148 areconfigured so that the optical machine-readable representation of data190 comprises a barcode. The protrusions 144, or at least their distalends 145, define the lines of the barcode, while the portions of thesurface 147 of the head portion 140 visible in the gaps 148 define thespaces between the lines of the barcode. The barcode is a linearbarcode, preferably of the Code 25 Interleaved standard format.

In variations to the above-described embodiments, the barcode mayinstead be a linear barcode of any one of the following standardformats: Code 25 Industrial, Code 39, Code 128, EAN, GS1 Databar andUPC. In further variations to the illustrated embodiments, the barcodemay instead be a matrix code of any one of the following standardformats: Aztec Code, PDF417, QR Code and Data Matrix. In such furthervariations, preferably the protrusions 144, 164 are not linear orelongate, but instead the protrusions 144, 164 are arranged in a gridpattern and each of the protrusions 144, 164 has a cross sectional shapesuitable for enabling the distal ends 145, 165 of the protrusions todefine individual modules or components of the matrix code.

While in each of the illustrated embodiments of the present inventionthe optical machine-readable representation of data 190 is disposed atthe second side 184 of the head 180, in other embodiments the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 may be disposed elsewhere onthe head 180. Moreover, while in each of the illustrated embodiments ofthe present invention the optical machine-readable representation ofdata 190 is comprised in the head 180 of the implement 100, in otherembodiments the optical machine-readable representation of data 190 maybe comprised elsewhere in the implement 100, such as in the handle 150or in the neck. In such other embodiments, the optical machine-readablerepresentation of data 190 may be defined solely by material unitarywith the body 110, solely by other material, such as resilient material,attached to the body 110, or by a combination of material unitary withthe body 110 and other material, such as resilient material, attached tothe body 110. Looked at another way, in some such other embodiments ofthe present invention, the handle portion 120 or the neck portion 130may be substituted for the head portion 140 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7. Inthese other embodiments of the present invention, the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 may, or may not, becomprised in a soft tissue cleaner.

In some embodiments of the present invention, rather than being definedby protrusions and gaps therebetween, the optical machine-readablerepresentation of data is instead comprised in a label that is providedon (e.g. adhered to) a portion of the implement 100, such as the head180, the handle 150 or the neck. The label may be provided in a recessin the portion of the implement 100, so as to preserve the label duringuse of the implement 100.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system having (a) anoral care implement comprising an optical machine-readablerepresentation of data, and (b) a device comprising a processor andmemory storing computer readable instructions for causing the processorto process an image of the optical machine-readable representation ofdata to extract the data from the image. An example of such a system isshown in FIG. 8.

With reference to FIG. 8, the system 1000 comprises any one of the oralcare implements 100 discussed above, in which the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190 comprises or represents afirst identifier (in this embodiment, the SKU) of the oral careimplement 100. The system 1000 further comprises a device 300, such as amobile device or a personal computer, comprising a processor 304.Communicatively connected to the processor 304, the device 300 furthercomprises memory 306, a scanner or camera 302, a communicationsinterface 308, and a user interface 310. The memory 306 stores computerreadable instructions (software, such as an app) for running (execution)by the processor 304.

Although omitted in some embodiments, in the present embodiment thesystem 1000 further comprises a remote server 400 comprising a processor404. Communicatively connected to the processor 404, the remote server400 further comprises memory 406, a database 402, and a communicationsinterface 408 for communication with the communications interface 308 ofthe device 300. The memory 406 stores computer readable instructions(software) for running (execution) by the processor 404. The database402 comprises a plurality of mappings between respective different firstidentifiers (in this embodiment, SKUs) of different oral care implementsand associated respective different second identifiers (in thisembodiment, data defining different photographs) of the different oralcare implements.

A user of the oral care implement 100 is able to use the device 300 tocapture an image of the optical machine-readable representation of data190 on the oral care implement 100. During this use, the processor 304of the device 300 runs the software stored in the memory 306 of thedevice 300. With the camera or scanner 302 facing the opticalmachine-readable representation of data 190, the user is able to enteran instruction via the user interface 310, which instruction is receivedby the processor 304 and input into the software. The software thencauses the processor 304 to control the camera or scanner 302 to capturethe image. The software further causes the processor 304 to process thecaptured image to extract the first identifier (i.e. the SKU) comprisedin or represented by the optical machine-readable representation of data190, and causes the extracted first identifier to be stored in thememory 306. The extracted first identifier could be stored in a shoppinglist stored in the memory 306, so that the user can re-order the oralcare implement 100 using a website.

In the present embodiment, the software further causes the processor 304to cause the communication interface 308 to send data comprising orrepresenting the first identifier to the processor 404 of the remoteserver 400 via the communications interface 408 of the remote server400. On receipt of the data, the processor 404 of the remote server 400executes suitable software stored in the memory 406 of the remote server400 to cause the processor 404 to query the database 402 to find arecord comprising the first identifier. On finding the record, theprocessor 404 extracts from the record the second identifier (i.e. datadefining a photograph of the implement 100) of the oral care implement100, which is mapped to the first identifier, and causes thecommunication interface 408 to send information comprising orrepresenting the second identifier to the processor 304 of the device300 via the communications interface 308 of the device 300. Theprocessor 304 of the device 300 then processes the received informationand causes the display 310 to display the second identifier (in thisembodiment, a photograph of the oral care implement 100), so as toreassure the user that the first identifier has been correctly extractedand the oral care implement 100 has been correctly identified.

Accordingly, the oral care implement comprising an opticalmachine-readable representation of data aids a consumer's identificationof the oral care implement and can be used to help consumers purchaseother examples of the same type of oral care implement.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral care implement comprising: a bodycomprising a handle portion and a head portion; and an opticalmachine-readable representation of data located on the body.
 2. The oralcare implement according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality ofprotrusions extending from the body, the plurality of protrusions atleast partially defining the optical machine-readable representation ofdata.
 3. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein each ofthe plurality of protrusions extends from an outer surface of the bodyto a distal end, and wherein a portion of the outer surface of the bodyfrom which the plurality of protrusions extend visually contrasts withthe distal ends of the protrusions.
 4. The oral care implement accordingto claim 3 wherein the potion of the outer surface of the body fromwhich the plurality of protrusions extend comprises a first color andthe distal ends of the protrusions comprise a second color, the firstcolor being a different color than the second color or the first andsecond colors being a different shade of the same color.
 5. The oralcare implement according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of protrusionsare spaced apart thereby exposing a surface in gaps between theplurality of protrusions, and wherein at least distal ends of theplurality of protrusions comprise a color that is different from andvisually contrasts with a color of the surface that is exposed in thegaps between the plurality of protrusions.
 6. The oral care implementaccording to claim 1 further comprising a resilient material coupled tothe body, the resilient material comprising a pad and a plurality ofprotrusions that are unitary with and extend from the pad, the pad andthe plurality of protrusions defining the optical machine-readablerepresentation of data.
 7. The oral care implement according to claim 6wherein the pad and distal ends of the plurality of protrusions have avisually contrasting appearance.
 8. The oral care implement according toclaim 6 wherein the pad comprises a first color and distal ends of theplurality of protrusions comprise a second color, the first color beinga different color than the second color or the first and second colorsbeing a different shade of the same color.
 9. The oral care implementaccording to claim 1 wherein the body is formed of a rigid material, andfurther comprising a pad formed of a resilient material coupled to thebody, a plurality of protrusions that are integral with the bodyextending through openings in the pad and protruding from an outersurface of the pad, and wherein exposed portions of the outer surface ofthe pad located between the plurality of protrusions comprise a firstcolor and distal ends of the plurality of protrusions comprise a secondcolor that visually contrasts with the first color, the plurality ofprotrusions and the exposed portions of the outer surface of the padcollectively defining the optical machine-readable representation ofdata.
 10. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the headportion of the body comprises a first side and a second side oppositethe first side, a plurality of cleaning elements extending from thefirst side of the head portion, and wherein the optical machine-readablerepresentation of data is located on the rear side of the head portion.11. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the opticalmachine-readable representation of data comprises or represents anidentifier of the oral care implement, and wherein the identifiercomprises a stock keeping unit of the oral care implement.
 12. Thetoothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the optical machine-readablerepresentation of data comprises a linear barcode comprising one of thefollowing formats: Code 25 Interleaved, Code 25 Industrial, Code 39,Code 128, EAN, GS1 Databar and UPC
 13. The toothbrush according to claim1, wherein the optical machine-readable representation of data comprisesa matrix code having one of the following formats: Aztec Code, PDF417,QR Code and Data Matrix.
 14. An oral care implement comprising: a bodycomprising a handle portion and a head portion, the head portion havinga first side and a second side opposite the first side; a soft tissuecleaner positioned on the second side of the head portion, the softtissue cleaner comprising a plurality of protrusions that extend fromthe second side of the head portion; and wherein the plurality ofprotrusions of the soft tissue cleaner at least partially define anoptical machine-readable representation of data.
 15. The oral careimplement according to claim 14 wherein the soft tissue cleaner is amonolithic structure formed of a resilient material, the soft tissuecleaner comprising a pad and the plurality of protrusions, wherein thepad is attached to the head portion of the body and the plurality ofprotrusions extend from an outer surface of the pad, wherein theplurality of protrusions are spaced apart from one another by gaps suchthat exposed portions of the outer surface of the pad are visible in thegaps, and wherein the plurality of protrusions and the exposed portionsof the outer surface of the pad collectively define the opticalmachine-readable representation of data.
 16. The oral care implementaccording to claim 15 wherein the exposed portions of the outer surfaceof the pad comprises a first color and distal ends of the plurality ofprotrusions comprise a second color, the first color being a differentcolor than the second color or the first and second colors being adifferent shade of the same color.
 17. The oral care implement of claim14, wherein the soft tissue cleaner comprises a pad formed of aresilient material, and wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises afirst plurality of protrusions that are formed integrally with the padand a second plurality of protrusions that are formed integrally withthe head portion of the body and extend through openings in the pad, thefirst plurality of protrusions being formed of a resilient material andthe second plurality of protrusions being formed of a rigid material.18. An oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handleportion and a head portion; and a monolithic mass of elastomericmaterial coupled to the body, the monolithic mass of elastomericmaterial comprising a pad and a plurality of protrusions, the monolithicmass of elastomeric material defining an optical machine-readablerepresentation of data.
 19. The oral care implement according to claim18 wherein the plurality of protrusions are spaced apart so that exposedportions of the pad are visible, and wherein the exposed portions of thepad comprise a first color and distal ends of the plurality ofprotrusions comprise a second color that is different than the firstcolor to create a high degree of visual contract between the distal endsof the plurality of protrusions and the exposed portions of the pad. 20.The oral care implement according to claim 18 wherein the head portioncomprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, aplurality of cleaning elements extending from the first side and themonolithic mass of elastomeric material located on the second side